Means for attaching tile or blocks to walls



Nov. 27, 1934. H. s. WILLIAMS 1,982,560

MEANS FOR ATTACHING TILE OR BLOCKS T0 WALLS Filed March 31, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 27, 1934. H, 5 w s 1,982,560

MEANS FOR ATTACHING TILE OR BLOCKS TO WALLS Filed March 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awuemfoz Patented Nov. 27, 1934 1,982,560 .MEANS non IATTACHING on moons T WALL Harold s. 'iWilliams, Oak 51 m, 111., .usignbr .to Rostone,j Incorporated, La Fayettalnd acorporation of Indiana Application March 31, 19:4, 8efial.Nn.."l18,494 f 14 Claims.

This invention is a novel improvement in means for attaching tiles orwall blocks to walls. The objects of the invention are to enable the tile to be quickly applied to a wall; to enable 6 different sizes of tile to be appliedto the same wall; and to enable the tile to be interchangeably ..applie'd.

The-invention permits a-great variety of sizes to be used interchangeably giving-various designs and patterns. It also enables tiles to be set by unskilled labor, and with greater accuracythan in'ordinary tile settingmethods. Furthermore, it allows the tile setter to make 1 changes in the pattern after the tile has been applied 'in-the :15 pattern first desired, provided that the final step offortcing joining cement into place has not been taken. Theinvention can beusedon either old or new walls, regardless of size, if fairly flat.

The invention is used in connectionwith' tile accurately cut to size andgrooved-by-the manufacturer; and due to the greatyariety of sizes of such tile available very little-cutting of tile is required where my invention is employed.

: In' the accompanying drawings I have illus-- trated one practical embodiment of :the invention and will describe the same with reference' thereto. In 'the claims are set forth the essentials of the invention and :novel features of construction :80 and combinations of part. for which proteotion is desired.

.In said drawings:

Figfilis a front elevationpartly bri'vkertv away of a "portion of a tiledwall embodying my invention.

.35 Fig. 2 is an enlargedhorizontal.section'through such a wallon the line 2-2,.Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsectionthrough such-a wall-onlthe line.3--3, Fig. -1.

Figu-iis a detail perspective view indicating the mode of applyingthe tile attaching clips-to thetbacking sheet; I

w Fig. 5 is a detail view Of'OI'IG OfLthe clipsr iFlg. 6:is a perspective view of part of an 'auxiliary bottom strip employed .in :certain con- *structions.

1 :Flgb'l is a vertical'section showing the manner of *applying the auxiliary; strip '7.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a top clip th'at may :be :used in some :cases.

# The invention inlbrief includes ametalYbackingrsheet 1 adapted to be attached to "the wall or framingto which the tile or blocks areitorbe attached; said sheet being provided with 'peculiar-1y disposed and related projecting *tongues :2

: and 3 adapted to retain blocksupportingrclips and "hold 'the tile-unblock 'B spaced from the backing "sheet. It furtherincludes clips 5 detachably attachable to *the backing sheet and having 'flanges adapted *to engage retaining tongues -on the backing sheet, and other flanges or teeth "adapted to engage grooves or interlocking portions of the'tiles, to secure them in place. I

The -backing sheet 1 is preferably made of sheet "steel, and "provided "with groups of pro-' jectingtongues or-'1ips2, 3 and 4. The tongues are preferably formedby partially punching out portions ofthesheetyas-shown in the drawings. The groups of tonguesare accurately and uniformly-=spaced,-throughout *the surface of the sheet. "Thesheets lshould be 'punchedfor the passage of retaining screws or nails 1n.

Preferably the .side edges of the sheet are beaded as at la -and their 1 upper and lower edges are beaded as-at 1b, 10. The beaded edges of adjacent sheets are overlapped, as indicatedin Fig. 1 so as-to accurately align eachsheet with the next adjacent sheets, on thewall, preparatory-*totheapplication of the tile;

The tongues '2 in each group are preferably arranged impairs, -each' tongue depending vertically and connectedat-itsupperend to the sheet and their'inner' -ends are separated by a narrow vertical portion is *of the sheet. Below the tongues a -in 'each' group are'pa'irsof tongues 3 which extend horizontally towards each other andare connected to the sheetat their outer ends, while'theirinner-endsare free. The inner ends of tongues "3 are also preferably separated by a narrow-'vertical-portion II of the sheet. The tongues '3 are *also separated from the tongues 2 by =a-'narro w"strip-portion 1g of the sheet.

The tongue 4 in each group is disposed above the pair of tongues 2 its upper end being attached to-the 'sheetand its lower end free.

The-tile orblocks are secured to the backing sheets by detachable insertableclips 5 (Fig. 4).- Theclipsare preferably formed of sheet metal; .and each'-lras an upwardly projecting flange 5a Qn its'rearedgaand upwardlyand downwardly 100 projecting teeth 'on'fianges 5b, 50 on its outer edge adapted to engageretaining grooves or devicesin the tiles or-blotks B.

The tongues -2 are "punched out away from the sheet, just for enough to "allow the flange 5a 105 of a wedge clip "5, to pass thereunder after the teeth Be-of tthe'clip '2i have been engaged with a groove in -thetile =IB f(see-Fig. 4) and holds the tile snugly in place against thetaction of the spring tongues mand 1. 'I'he' -tongues 3 and 4 1 0 cement or sealing material G. j

, In the drawings the tiles B are shown as pro- A vided with longitudinal grooves 19, c, in their, lower and upper edges which are respectively engaged with the flanges-orteeth 512,50 of the clips 5, when the latter are in place. I do, not, however, consider my invention limited to the use of grooves as the tiles and clips mightbe provided with other interengaging devices to secure the tiles in place.

After sheets 1 have been secured to. the wall;

to which the tile or blocks are to be. applied, clips 5 are slipped laterally into position upon and above the lowest row of tonguesB andunder the lowest row of tongues 2 (see Fig. 3), The

. lowermost tiles B are then placed on these clips so that the grooves 22' in their lower edgesare engaged with the teethf5b of the elips. IThe tiles are of such size that their top edges alignwith a superposed row of tongues (2, 3),; Then other clips 5 are positioned above' the tile with the teeth 50 engaging groove c (see Fig. 4.) and slid endwise intoposition beneath tongues .2 and over tongues 3, thus securely holding the, tile in position against the actionoftonguesfi and-4. It should be noted that the tile B can be of a length and height surficient to cover several rows of tongues, as such covered tongues-would not hinder the application of the tile;;but the clips 5 are only used at the top and bottom edges of the tile. 1

When the clip 5 is slid horizontally into place under tongue 2, a slightwedging action is desirable. This wedging. action is obtained by sloping the top edges of the flange 5g. of the clip adjacent its ends as shownin Figs. 5. and 5.

The spring tongues 3 and 4. -force the tile B outward against the holding action of the clip 2, and the space behind thetilecan be filled with After the tiles have been applied and the pattern approved, the open joints between the tiles are sealed by jointing cement, or other suitable material. The sealing material is preferably forced into the joints between the tiles with a gun having a nozzle that covers the joints, :and when pressure is-applied; on the plunger of the gun, the sealingmaterial is forced into the joints and behind the tile; into the spaces provided by the spring clip. When the sealing material has set the tiles will be permanently held in place.

When the sheets 1 can be attached to the wall before the flooring is laid, the lower sheets are applied to the wall so that the, lower ends of the lowermost row of tongues 2 will be about flush with the upper surfaceofthe finishedfloor; and when the job is completed the flooring F (which may be of cement or any other suitable material) is about flush with the upper edge of the lowermost tongues 3, as shown in-Fig. 3.

In cases where the floor has been already laid, or where it is impractical to use clips 5; to secure the bottom edge of the lowermost tile; the auxiliary bottom strip 7 may be employed (see Figs. 6 and 7). The strip '7 is provided withan outwardly extending bottom flange Vahaving on its outer edge a lip lb adapted to engage the grooves b in the lower tiles B. The upper edge of the back portion of the strip is provided with a bead '10 adapted to be engaged with the bead 10 on the lower edge of the lowermost sheets 1 as indicated in Fig. 7.

The top finishing tiles B may be thicker than the tiles B; and the space between the upper edge of the tile B and the wall can be filled with grouting as indicated at G.

If desired instead of securing clips 5 the upper edge of the finishing tile B could be secured by wedge clips such as 8 indicated in Fig. 8.

', ,Various size tile can be used with my invention; based on an a: unit dimension. That is, the size of the tile are all a multiple of a: and the groups of tongues on the backing sheet spaced at x intervals. A great variety of designs may be obtained by using different sizes of tile, rather than using only one size. Such combinations are abundant.

By my invention the tile can be quickly and accurately set, and more economically, since-unskilled labor can be used.

, I cl ai m:, Y g 1 ..Means for attaching tile to walls; including a backing sheet having groups of spaced projecting tongues arranged in relation to tile dimension, and clips respectively detachably engageable with a group of c said tongues and having members adapted to detachably engage the tile to secure them to the sheet.

2. Means for attaching tile having grooved edges to walls; including abacking sheet having groups of spaced projecting tongues, and clips respectively detachably engageable with a group of tongues, said clips having outwardly projecting flanges provided with members adapted to detachably engage grooves in the edges of the tile to retain them in place. a 1

3. Means for attaching tile to walls comprising a backing sheet having spaced groups of projecting tongues, each group including a clip retaining tongue and an adjacent clip supporting tongue; and detachable clips adapted to be engaged with the retaining tongues and rest upon the supporting tongues and having retaining members adapted to engage the tile to secure them to the sheet. 4. Means for attaching tile to walls; comprise ing a backing sheet having spaced groups of 'pro+ jecting tongues, each-group including a down: wardly projecting tongue and an adjacent underlying horizontally projecting-tongue; and clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the downwardly projecting tongues and rest, upon the supporting tongues and having members adapted to engage interengaging members on the tile to fasten the tile to the sheet.

5. Means forv attaching tile to walls comprising a backing sheet having-spaced groups of projecting tongues, each group including a downwardly projecting tongue and an adjacent underlying horizontally projecting tongue; and clips: having portions adapted to be engaged with the downwardly projecting tongues and, supported by the horizontally supporting tongues, andoutwardly projecting flanges providedwith portions adapted respectively to engage grooves in the edges of the tileto'retain them in place. f i

6. Means for attaching tile to walls, including a backing sheet having spaced projecting tongues and edge-portions adapted to interlock with edge portions of adjacent sheets, and clips detachably engageable with said tongues and having retaining members adapted to engage the tile to secure them-to the sheet. r

'7. Means for attaching tile to walls, including a backing sheet having spaced projecting tongues and edges adapted to interlock with adjacent sheets, clips detachably engageable with said tongues and having retaining members adapted to engage the tile to secure them to the sheet, and an auxiliary bottom strip having means for retaining the lower portions of the lowermost tiles.

8. Means for attaching tile to walls; including a backing sheet having spaced projecting tongues and beaded edges, and clips detachably engageable with tongues of the groups, said clips having outwardly projecting flanges provided with members adapted to engage grooves in the edges of the tile to retain them in place, and an auxiliary bottom strip beaded on its upper edge, and having a lip adapted to engage the bottom groove in the lower tile.

9. Means for attaching tile to walls comprising a backing sheet having beaded edges for engagement with adjacent sheets and spaced groups of projecting tongues, each group including a clip retaining tongue and an adjacent clip supporting tongue; and clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the retaining tongues and rest upon the supporting tongues, said clips having retaining members adapted to engage the tile to secure them to the sheet.

10. Means for attaching tile to walls comprising a backing sheet having beaded edges for engagement with adjacent sheets and spaced groups of projecting tongues, each group including a clip retaining tongue and an adjacent clip supporting tongue; clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the retaining tongues and rest upon the supporting tongues, said clips having retaining members adapted to engage the tile to secure them to the sheet and an auxiliary bottom strip having means for retaining the lower portions of the lowermost tiles.

11. Means for attaching tile to walls; comprising a backing sheet having spaced, groups of projecting tongues, and edges adapted to interlock with adjacent sheets; each group of tongues including a downwardly projecting tongue and an adjacent underlying horizontally projecting tongue; and clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the downwardly projecting tongues and rest upon the supporting tongues and having the members adapted to engage interengaging members on the tile to fasten the tile to the sheet.

12. Means for attaching tile to walls; comprising a backing sheet having spaced groups of projecting tongues and edges adapted to interlock with adjacent sheets; each group of tongues including a downwardly projecting tongue and an adjacent underlying horizontally projecting tongue; and clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the downwardly projecting tongues and rest upon the supporting tongues and having the members adapted to engage interengaging members on the tile to fasten the tile to the sheet, and an auxiliary bottom strip beaded on its upper edge and having a lip adapted to engage the bottom groove in the lower tile.

'13. Means for attaching tile to walls comprising a backing sheet having spaced groups of projecting tongues, each group including a pair of downwardly projecting spaced tongues, and an adjacent underlying pair of horizontally projecting 100 tongues; and clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the downwardly projecting tongues and supported by the horizontally supporting tongues, and outwardly projecting flanges provided with portions adapted to engage the tiles to retain them in place.

It. Means for attaching tile to walls comprising a backing sheet having spaced groups of projecting tongues, each group including a pair of downwardly projecting spaced tongues, an adjacent underlying pair of horizontally projecting tongues; and edges adapted to interlock with adjacent sheets; clips having portions adapted to be engaged with the downwardly projecting tongues and supported by the horizontally supporting tongues, and outwardly projecting flanges provided with portions adapted to engage the tiles to retain them in place. 

